In 'Lila,' A Nomad Finds Solace And Love In The Arms Of A Preacher
Marilynne Robinson's fourth novel is a prequel to 2004's Gilead: That book told the Rev. John Ames' family story and this book tells the story of his wife.
Books
How The Cold War And George Orwell Helped Make The Internet What It Is
In The Innovators, Walter Isaacson explains that Pentagon officials wanted a system the Russians couldn't attack, and 1984 made the public wary of new technology's Big Brother potential.
'Florence Gordon' Isn't Friend Material, But You'll Appreciate Her
Brian Morton's novel features a 75-year-old woman — an icon of the Second Wave Women's Movement — who's a self-described "difficult woman." It's a witty, nuanced and ultimately moving novel.
Book News: Bob Dylan's Lyrics Get Their Own Book — And It's Massive
The 1,034-page collection sets out to annotate, illustrate and track the changes of Dylan's myriad songs. Also, after a decade on trial, Superman won't be reaching the Supreme Court.
A Hairy, Sardonic Fable In 'The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil'
Stephen Collins' debut graphic novel depicts a bland, comfortable, conformist world turned upside down by one man's sudden growth of a bristly, twisty, unstoppably anarchic beard.
Historian: FDR Was The Last Great President. Let's Never Have Another
In his new book, The End of Greatness, historian Aaron David Miller argues that the nation might be better off without any more truly great presidents — or the national crises that produce them.
The Unadaptable 'Curious Incident' Gets A Stage Adaptation
Author Mark Haddon never imagined The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time would work as a play — he judged his writing by its unadaptability. But now it is one, and critics are loving it.
Bestsellers week of October 2, 2014
The NPR Bestseller Lists are compiled from weekly surveys of close to 500 indepe
Panetta: Fight Against Terrorism Will Be A Long, Sustained War
In a new memoir, Leon Panetta says he and other presidential advisers argued to leave some U.S. forces in Iraq after 2011. That might have left Iraq in better position to fight ISIS, he tells NPR.
'Ancillary Sword' Examines Life On The Fringes Of A Galactic Empire
Ann Leckie's eagerly awaited sequel to last year's Ancillary Justice quickly wraps up dangling plot threads, and sends heroine Breq on a brand new adventure, this time at the helm of her own ship.